Part 12 (2/2)
volunteered Josh; whereat the other seemed to make a swift ether, and went on to say resolutely:
”I'ht happen tothe road back of us
Yes, I'll go,” but it could easily be seen that Hanky Panky was not taking any great pleasure in the outlook
They could use theirthe road; then it became necessary for them to dismount, break down a fence, and trundle the motorcycles across a field to where the temporary hospital had been established, in touch with the battle lines
Motor vehicles were co at speedy intervals Rod noticed that they all used another road, which evidently must be the direct course to Paris, where the wounded heroes were being hurried after their injuries had received first care; because that is usually all a field hospital is intended to acco the flow of blood, and in other ways holding the spark of life until operations can be attempted further removed from the scene of action
Every one inside the limits of the place see this way and that with stretchers, carrying wounded soldiers back and forth Vehicles were co, and these see lorries run with a n of the Red Cross on their sides, in order to protect them as much as possible from the fire of the enemy
It was in this manner therefore that the three Motorcycle Boys found the a new phase of their extraordinary adventures, and one that would doubtless never be forgotten, even when they found theain safe in their distant homes
CHAPTER XIV
WHERE THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE RAGED
”Look, an aeroplane co upwards
”If you glance off yonder,” added Josh, ”you'll seeover the battle lines, and I guess sending signals back to tell what the observer notes fro, Josh,” Rod went on to say, as he stopped for a brief time to take a look in the direction indicated
In fact, they couldabout as swift as ss on the wing, others ed trans white!” cried Hanky Panky; ”chances are he's giving the gunners on his side a tip, so they can get the range of the German battery, and put it out of action with a volley”
”And there's going to be souess,” added Josh, excitedly; ”because there co the French ones battle Rod, we're going to watch a fight in the sky, don't you see? Whee! but this _is_ the life, take it froht on the lines when a big battle was taking place”
The pair of Taube e the rival aeroplanes that had beenso free with the secrets of the German defences Evidently the aviators had been ordered to put a stop to the operations of the French pilots, noat each other now!” cried Josh; ”you can see the puffs of smoke break out every second; and it's different fro of shrapnel shells all around theasped Hanky Panky, stretching his neck still more in order to follow the swift evolutions of the rival air et his asoline tank exploded?”
”That'd be a bad thing for the men in the aeroplane, I should say!” Josh inforh, and a fall would flatten a poor chump out like a pancake”
”There's one of the Ger away!”
called out Hanky Panky; ”and the other--why, see how queer thataround like a corkscrew, and seeood reason, too,” snapped Josh ”French guns proved superior to the Kaiser's, for they did so! Only for the skill of the two ht now like the stick of a spent rocket, or ato strike the earth”
All of them watched the erratic course of the disabled aeroplane with the keenest interest Indeed, the valiant pilot certainly deserved a great deal of praise for the way in which heto strike the earth with a severe blow
”I wouldn't like to be aboard that poor craft, let me tell you,” said Hanky Panky, as it neared the earth, not far back of the French front; ”the people in it are going to get broken ars, and the machine will be smashed in pieces”